1 00:00:15,076 --> 00:00:25,996 Speaker 1: Pushkin. This is Solvable. I'm Ronald Young Jr. We have 2 00:00:25,996 --> 00:00:28,796 Speaker 1: a really special episode for you today. You may recall 3 00:00:28,876 --> 00:00:31,276 Speaker 1: that back in September, I talked with TV writer Mike 4 00:00:31,316 --> 00:00:34,396 Speaker 1: Goyo about his work to support young black writers in Hollywood. 5 00:00:34,836 --> 00:00:37,276 Speaker 1: He mentioned then that his writing would be credited on 6 00:00:37,316 --> 00:00:41,236 Speaker 1: the upcoming and final season of Insecure. Well, as you 7 00:00:41,316 --> 00:00:44,316 Speaker 1: probably know, that season is well underway, so I asked 8 00:00:44,436 --> 00:00:47,116 Speaker 1: Mike to come back to Solvable and spill all his secrets, 9 00:00:47,516 --> 00:00:49,076 Speaker 1: or at least tell me more about what it was 10 00:00:49,116 --> 00:00:52,796 Speaker 1: like writing for Insecure. Here's our conversation, and stick with 11 00:00:52,876 --> 00:00:54,956 Speaker 1: us because at the end of this short chat, we'll 12 00:00:54,996 --> 00:00:59,276 Speaker 1: share our original episode about Mike's inspiring mentorship program called 13 00:00:59,516 --> 00:01:03,516 Speaker 1: the Black Boy Writes Black Girl Rights Mentorship Initiative. Here 14 00:01:03,516 --> 00:01:06,596 Speaker 1: we go. You know, I follow you on Instagram. I 15 00:01:06,636 --> 00:01:09,356 Speaker 1: saw your pictures. You do a big things with care 16 00:01:09,436 --> 00:01:14,036 Speaker 1: right now. Stopped you for the premiere party. I did 17 00:01:14,116 --> 00:01:18,636 Speaker 1: to myself. You look fantastic. I styled myself for for everything. 18 00:01:18,876 --> 00:01:24,156 Speaker 1: Um that look came together in less than twenty four hours. Honestly, 19 00:01:24,196 --> 00:01:27,476 Speaker 1: if I wasn't a writer, I would be in I 20 00:01:27,516 --> 00:01:30,356 Speaker 1: would be in fashion fair. Yeah, yeah, you got your 21 00:01:30,396 --> 00:01:34,996 Speaker 1: Instagram on lock Man like, no, thank you, thank you, 22 00:01:35,156 --> 00:01:38,356 Speaker 1: thank you. The premiere was great, and you know, this 23 00:01:38,396 --> 00:01:41,756 Speaker 1: is my first season writing on the show, but I've 24 00:01:41,796 --> 00:01:44,196 Speaker 1: been a fan of the show since it started, you know, 25 00:01:44,756 --> 00:01:47,076 Speaker 1: so being able to have that kind of like insider 26 00:01:47,196 --> 00:01:53,556 Speaker 1: experience to its history almost like just a museum, felt great. 27 00:01:54,076 --> 00:01:56,196 Speaker 1: It was awesome. So I know you've written for other 28 00:01:56,236 --> 00:01:58,716 Speaker 1: shows like you know, Jenny and Georgia. You know, writing 29 00:01:58,716 --> 00:02:01,036 Speaker 1: for a show like this where you're you're a fan 30 00:02:01,116 --> 00:02:03,596 Speaker 1: of the show from the beginning, does that change the 31 00:02:03,636 --> 00:02:07,236 Speaker 1: experience in the writer's room for you. It does. It does, 32 00:02:07,436 --> 00:02:10,156 Speaker 1: and emotionally in the sense of like, oh this is 33 00:02:10,156 --> 00:02:12,956 Speaker 1: my favorite show. Okay, I gotta do right by it. 34 00:02:13,556 --> 00:02:17,996 Speaker 1: I can't be out here pitching like crazy stuff things 35 00:02:17,996 --> 00:02:23,316 Speaker 1: that I wanted to see like season two, you know 36 00:02:23,316 --> 00:02:25,036 Speaker 1: what I mean. It's like, Noah, she should have went 37 00:02:25,076 --> 00:02:31,556 Speaker 1: with Daniel. Daniel like to tell you that, like the 38 00:02:31,756 --> 00:02:34,276 Speaker 1: I think the first day in the writer's room, I 39 00:02:34,316 --> 00:02:36,196 Speaker 1: was like, Okay, so this and this need to happen 40 00:02:36,436 --> 00:02:39,036 Speaker 1: because if you don't, like you know, I was like, okay, 41 00:02:39,116 --> 00:02:42,196 Speaker 1: my calm down. But yeah, I was, you know, incredibly 42 00:02:42,196 --> 00:02:45,116 Speaker 1: excited and to your point, it's different than Ginny and 43 00:02:45,116 --> 00:02:47,596 Speaker 1: Georgia only because Ginnie and Georgia is it was its 44 00:02:47,596 --> 00:02:53,676 Speaker 1: first season, so you originated stuff. Yeah, so come on originator. No. 45 00:02:53,836 --> 00:02:57,076 Speaker 1: But like the same kind of fanfare that people are 46 00:02:57,076 --> 00:03:02,076 Speaker 1: experiencing over Jenny and Georgia as z words I experienced 47 00:03:02,196 --> 00:03:06,316 Speaker 1: with Insecure. But when you're on a show and it's 48 00:03:06,356 --> 00:03:08,516 Speaker 1: like the inception of the show and you're starting with 49 00:03:08,556 --> 00:03:11,636 Speaker 1: the first season, then you and the other writers are 50 00:03:11,676 --> 00:03:15,676 Speaker 1: tasked with creating the world, with creating who these characters are. 51 00:03:15,836 --> 00:03:18,756 Speaker 1: So when you become a part of that process, it's 52 00:03:18,796 --> 00:03:21,356 Speaker 1: slightly harder to just be able to sit back as 53 00:03:21,356 --> 00:03:24,796 Speaker 1: a fan and you know, and of course we love 54 00:03:24,956 --> 00:03:26,676 Speaker 1: all the fans of the show and it it's become 55 00:03:26,716 --> 00:03:29,316 Speaker 1: an incredibly successful show and we love that. But it's 56 00:03:29,316 --> 00:03:32,556 Speaker 1: just a different experience, you know, Like with insecurests like 57 00:03:32,916 --> 00:03:35,636 Speaker 1: I didn't have to write it. I didn't have to 58 00:03:35,676 --> 00:03:38,236 Speaker 1: come up with these stories, and I could just enjoy 59 00:03:38,236 --> 00:03:40,516 Speaker 1: it as a fan and like pick my team. I 60 00:03:40,596 --> 00:03:43,236 Speaker 1: was like team Lawrence, team Nathan, Like who am I? Like? 61 00:03:43,516 --> 00:03:47,396 Speaker 1: Do you know what I mean? Yelvable podcast? All right, 62 00:03:47,436 --> 00:03:49,356 Speaker 1: I don't care. I didn't even ask anybody this is 63 00:03:49,396 --> 00:03:53,236 Speaker 1: a time podcast. You can tell Malcolm tell everybody's Lauren's 64 00:03:53,236 --> 00:03:56,556 Speaker 1: Time podcast. Come on alone time when I'm mad at 65 00:03:56,596 --> 00:03:58,476 Speaker 1: it and tell me Take me back forward a second, 66 00:03:58,556 --> 00:04:00,996 Speaker 1: take me through if you remember, and I'm sure you do. 67 00:04:01,316 --> 00:04:04,356 Speaker 1: What was your what was your first day working with 68 00:04:04,396 --> 00:04:06,516 Speaker 1: the team like? And I imagine was it was a 69 00:04:06,596 --> 00:04:09,156 Speaker 1: virtual were you in person? What was it like? It 70 00:04:09,196 --> 00:04:12,196 Speaker 1: was fantastic. What I'll say is I knew most of 71 00:04:12,236 --> 00:04:15,236 Speaker 1: the writers personally, and it was my first time working 72 00:04:15,276 --> 00:04:17,476 Speaker 1: with a lot of them professionally. So there's that kind 73 00:04:17,476 --> 00:04:21,796 Speaker 1: of like, Okay, Mike, don't be on here talking crazy 74 00:04:21,996 --> 00:04:25,396 Speaker 1: like you would having drinks drinks with this person, you know, 75 00:04:25,516 --> 00:04:31,676 Speaker 1: be professional, pitch beacup things like that. Say something smart 76 00:04:31,716 --> 00:04:34,196 Speaker 1: like you know what you're talking about. But it was 77 00:04:34,236 --> 00:04:38,236 Speaker 1: also different because it was my first virtual room because 78 00:04:38,316 --> 00:04:42,476 Speaker 1: remember we were all in the depths of quarantine and 79 00:04:42,596 --> 00:04:46,476 Speaker 1: that kind of like familial aspect of the writer's room. 80 00:04:46,796 --> 00:04:48,716 Speaker 1: You don't really get to build it as much on 81 00:04:49,156 --> 00:04:54,916 Speaker 1: Zoom Like it was very efficient, but that efficiency kind 82 00:04:54,916 --> 00:04:59,996 Speaker 1: of slightly stepped on some of the relationship building maybe, 83 00:05:00,396 --> 00:05:02,556 Speaker 1: but for the most part, like oh my god, the 84 00:05:02,636 --> 00:05:06,276 Speaker 1: room experience was fantastic. Wow. So did you ever get 85 00:05:06,316 --> 00:05:08,916 Speaker 1: to spend time on set and what was that like? 86 00:05:10,076 --> 00:05:17,916 Speaker 1: I did to get to spend time on set. I 87 00:05:18,036 --> 00:05:22,316 Speaker 1: love that you can't tell us everything, so I get it. 88 00:05:22,476 --> 00:05:30,836 Speaker 1: I appreciate that. So imagine you're gonna get me. I'm not. 89 00:05:30,916 --> 00:05:33,356 Speaker 1: I'm not, I'm not. So yeah. So you so you 90 00:05:33,396 --> 00:05:35,676 Speaker 1: had a good time? I imagine? Um, what was your 91 00:05:35,716 --> 00:05:38,396 Speaker 1: What was your favorite thing about about writing this season 92 00:05:38,476 --> 00:05:40,316 Speaker 1: or about helping out this season that you can share 93 00:05:40,836 --> 00:05:44,836 Speaker 1: talking about the larger themes of the show, and because 94 00:05:44,876 --> 00:05:48,396 Speaker 1: it's the final season, you're closing out these characters and 95 00:05:48,396 --> 00:05:50,676 Speaker 1: their experiences and you're wanting to kind of give them 96 00:05:50,676 --> 00:05:55,116 Speaker 1: their like full circle moment. Being able to discuss that 97 00:05:55,196 --> 00:05:58,956 Speaker 1: and having conversations around that was great because you you 98 00:05:58,956 --> 00:06:04,556 Speaker 1: get to assist in how these characters land emotionally in 99 00:06:04,596 --> 00:06:08,476 Speaker 1: the series. It's like, what are they learning? What is 100 00:06:08,516 --> 00:06:11,116 Speaker 1: coming up for them? What do we want the audience 101 00:06:11,156 --> 00:06:14,476 Speaker 1: to know as we finish out the series. One thing 102 00:06:14,516 --> 00:06:17,076 Speaker 1: that was really that we kind of landed on early 103 00:06:17,836 --> 00:06:20,636 Speaker 1: is that we wanted it to write like we were 104 00:06:20,676 --> 00:06:23,636 Speaker 1: getting a season six, so that we didn't feel the 105 00:06:23,716 --> 00:06:27,836 Speaker 1: pressure of, oh, we have to, like, you know, really 106 00:06:27,836 --> 00:06:31,636 Speaker 1: close out these characters in a huge way. Dada Insecure 107 00:06:31,676 --> 00:06:35,676 Speaker 1: has been about slightive life stories and also like what 108 00:06:35,716 --> 00:06:37,636 Speaker 1: it looks like if you were just you know, a 109 00:06:37,676 --> 00:06:40,476 Speaker 1: fly on the wall in this person's life, in this 110 00:06:40,556 --> 00:06:45,436 Speaker 1: particular section of this person's full life. So if that's 111 00:06:45,476 --> 00:06:50,276 Speaker 1: the case, then let's not concern ourselves with closing them 112 00:06:50,276 --> 00:06:52,956 Speaker 1: out in a way that feels finite, do you know 113 00:06:52,956 --> 00:06:57,676 Speaker 1: what I mean. It's not meant for you to feel like, oh, okay, 114 00:06:57,716 --> 00:07:00,036 Speaker 1: I'm never going to see that character again. It's meant 115 00:07:00,036 --> 00:07:03,156 Speaker 1: to feel like that character is living on in a 116 00:07:03,356 --> 00:07:06,516 Speaker 1: universe that you just don't get, you just aren't privy 117 00:07:06,516 --> 00:07:09,676 Speaker 1: to anymore. Yeah, that's all you kind of wanted to 118 00:07:09,756 --> 00:07:12,396 Speaker 1: feel like, Yeah, that's I kind of feel like that 119 00:07:12,436 --> 00:07:15,356 Speaker 1: when I watched my favorite shows on television. Now, you know, 120 00:07:15,356 --> 00:07:16,916 Speaker 1: when you look back to them over and over again, 121 00:07:16,996 --> 00:07:18,556 Speaker 1: it always feels good to just go back to that 122 00:07:18,636 --> 00:07:22,796 Speaker 1: episode and see that they're doing the same thing over 123 00:07:22,836 --> 00:07:24,676 Speaker 1: and over again, to timeloop and you could just go 124 00:07:24,836 --> 00:07:27,476 Speaker 1: visit them and see how this boding. You know, I 125 00:07:27,476 --> 00:07:29,396 Speaker 1: guess I like it with some of my shows get 126 00:07:29,436 --> 00:07:31,796 Speaker 1: revived and you get to see what they're doing. You're 127 00:07:31,796 --> 00:07:33,796 Speaker 1: going to update on them, But I feel like some 128 00:07:33,836 --> 00:07:35,836 Speaker 1: people take that too far. So I like what you're 129 00:07:35,876 --> 00:07:38,196 Speaker 1: saying to just consider them being in a universe somewhere 130 00:07:38,516 --> 00:07:40,436 Speaker 1: where I just I'm not privy to what they're doing. 131 00:07:40,516 --> 00:07:43,076 Speaker 1: And I think that's that's excellent ways to write. Do 132 00:07:43,116 --> 00:07:45,996 Speaker 1: you You know, with your with your foundation with black 133 00:07:46,036 --> 00:07:48,556 Speaker 1: boy Rights, black girl Rights, you have a lot of 134 00:07:48,596 --> 00:07:51,076 Speaker 1: advice for your mentees about you know, how to be 135 00:07:51,116 --> 00:07:53,596 Speaker 1: in the room and all that. Did you find yourself 136 00:07:53,876 --> 00:07:56,996 Speaker 1: using any of the advice that you have been giving 137 00:07:56,996 --> 00:08:01,276 Speaker 1: out as a mentor. I feel myself not using my 138 00:08:01,356 --> 00:08:05,716 Speaker 1: own advice. Okay, you know how I'm sitting there giving 139 00:08:05,756 --> 00:08:08,276 Speaker 1: them like page advice about like what to do. Yeah, 140 00:08:08,396 --> 00:08:11,116 Speaker 1: and I'm over here, like Mike, you're not even saying 141 00:08:11,236 --> 00:08:14,556 Speaker 1: what you said what you told them to do, so 142 00:08:14,716 --> 00:08:17,436 Speaker 1: you know what I mean? So I try to remember 143 00:08:18,316 --> 00:08:22,436 Speaker 1: that I am a member of the writing staff and 144 00:08:22,516 --> 00:08:25,716 Speaker 1: not not just like a fan anymore. So that kind 145 00:08:25,756 --> 00:08:29,516 Speaker 1: of like those those nerves that you might have about 146 00:08:29,556 --> 00:08:33,636 Speaker 1: feeling like, okay, is what are thing making sense? You know, 147 00:08:33,716 --> 00:08:36,396 Speaker 1: you quickly have to kind of dispel so that you 148 00:08:36,436 --> 00:08:46,076 Speaker 1: can be an effective communicator. Okay, So I'm gonna ask 149 00:08:46,076 --> 00:08:48,756 Speaker 1: you two questions that you probably can't answer, and that's okay, 150 00:08:48,756 --> 00:08:50,516 Speaker 1: what I want to ask of it. Hey, all right, 151 00:08:50,556 --> 00:08:56,036 Speaker 1: you can ask where there were there any particular lines 152 00:08:56,396 --> 00:08:58,396 Speaker 1: or anything that you wrote that we can listen for 153 00:09:00,516 --> 00:09:04,756 Speaker 1: coming up, coming up. In Nah, I can't tell you 154 00:09:04,756 --> 00:09:07,556 Speaker 1: that I care. There are a couple that I am 155 00:09:07,596 --> 00:09:10,476 Speaker 1: particularly proud of, and I have to like wait to 156 00:09:10,756 --> 00:09:13,676 Speaker 1: I have to remember if they even made the final cut. 157 00:09:14,036 --> 00:09:16,916 Speaker 1: But there are and I'm not saying anything. Okay, Well 158 00:09:16,996 --> 00:09:22,596 Speaker 1: we'll talk about it. We'll talk offline. Nobody's listening, right right. 159 00:09:22,756 --> 00:09:27,476 Speaker 1: Um by next question is, um, so you've done insecure now, 160 00:09:27,556 --> 00:09:28,996 Speaker 1: you know what I mean? And that's you know, that's 161 00:09:29,036 --> 00:09:31,236 Speaker 1: a pretty big feather in your cap. What do you 162 00:09:31,236 --> 00:09:34,836 Speaker 1: want to do next? I have been so blessed and 163 00:09:34,876 --> 00:09:42,076 Speaker 1: grateful to take on a few projects. I can't even 164 00:09:42,156 --> 00:09:45,276 Speaker 1: talk about them yet. That's the thing. I can't talk 165 00:09:45,316 --> 00:09:48,316 Speaker 1: about them that yet. They haven't been announced. Yeah, but 166 00:09:48,476 --> 00:09:50,836 Speaker 1: as soon as they are, Ronald, you know, I'm gonna 167 00:09:50,876 --> 00:09:54,676 Speaker 1: call you and be like, Yo, Ronald, what happened? This 168 00:09:54,756 --> 00:09:56,916 Speaker 1: is what I was talking about? What I was talking about? 169 00:09:57,636 --> 00:10:00,076 Speaker 1: So Mike. You know, I'm really glad that you took 170 00:10:00,076 --> 00:10:01,876 Speaker 1: the time to be here. I consider you a friend 171 00:10:01,916 --> 00:10:03,836 Speaker 1: to the show. You're the only guest that has returned, 172 00:10:04,436 --> 00:10:06,396 Speaker 1: well except for Malcolm, of course, but you're the only 173 00:10:06,476 --> 00:10:10,316 Speaker 1: gul You're the second that is that is Malcolm. Shout 174 00:10:10,316 --> 00:10:13,476 Speaker 1: out to Malcolm Gladwell. But we're glad to have you back. 175 00:10:13,956 --> 00:10:15,956 Speaker 1: Tell everybody how they can find you, and tell me 176 00:10:16,116 --> 00:10:18,356 Speaker 1: more about the work that you're doing with Black Boy 177 00:10:18,436 --> 00:10:21,156 Speaker 1: Rites and Black Girl Writes. Thank you. You can find 178 00:10:21,196 --> 00:10:24,996 Speaker 1: me on Twitter at black Boy Writes. You can find 179 00:10:25,036 --> 00:10:28,756 Speaker 1: me on Instagram also at black Boy Writes, but it's 180 00:10:28,756 --> 00:10:33,276 Speaker 1: a period in between each letter. Blackboyris and Blackgy Rites 181 00:10:33,436 --> 00:10:36,796 Speaker 1: is a mentorship initiative that I launched at the top 182 00:10:36,876 --> 00:10:41,476 Speaker 1: of twenty twenty one to help writers of color gain 183 00:10:41,596 --> 00:10:44,236 Speaker 1: access into the industry. You know, there are a lot 184 00:10:44,276 --> 00:10:48,276 Speaker 1: of talented writers out there that just need the access. 185 00:10:48,556 --> 00:10:52,436 Speaker 1: So please keep your eyes peeled for the twenty twenty 186 00:10:52,436 --> 00:10:55,316 Speaker 1: two class of mentees. I'm very proud of the program 187 00:10:55,356 --> 00:11:00,236 Speaker 1: and hope that it becomes like a mainstay in the Hollywood. 188 00:11:00,836 --> 00:11:02,356 Speaker 1: I hope it does too, man, I hope this is 189 00:11:02,396 --> 00:11:05,596 Speaker 1: the beginning of something very big for you and and 190 00:11:05,836 --> 00:11:07,796 Speaker 1: I'm really proud of the work that you're doing. I'm 191 00:11:07,796 --> 00:11:09,156 Speaker 1: really glad that you came back to the show, and 192 00:11:09,276 --> 00:11:11,676 Speaker 1: thanks for coming back. Thank you, thanks for having me. 193 00:11:11,756 --> 00:11:16,956 Speaker 1: Ronald now solvable listeners. Here's the episode we first published 194 00:11:16,956 --> 00:11:19,796 Speaker 1: back in September of twenty twenty one about Mike Goyle's 195 00:11:19,836 --> 00:11:28,236 Speaker 1: mentorship initiative Black Boy Rights, Black Girl Rights. This is solvable. 196 00:11:28,716 --> 00:11:31,316 Speaker 1: I'm Ronald Young Junior. We should be allowed to take 197 00:11:31,396 --> 00:11:33,476 Speaker 1: up space, not just allowed to take up space. We 198 00:11:33,516 --> 00:11:37,196 Speaker 1: should just be taking up space ourselves because we deserve it. 199 00:11:37,636 --> 00:11:40,716 Speaker 1: In recent years, calls for more diverse representation in Hollywood 200 00:11:40,716 --> 00:11:44,276 Speaker 1: and show business have grown louder and more frequent, whether 201 00:11:44,276 --> 00:11:47,396 Speaker 1: it's April Rain starting the hashtag oscar so white or 202 00:11:47,556 --> 00:11:51,076 Speaker 1: writer director actor Issa Ray using her large following to 203 00:11:51,116 --> 00:11:54,316 Speaker 1: be rooting for everybody black. There have been many public 204 00:11:54,356 --> 00:11:57,876 Speaker 1: calls for action around and criticism of the lack of 205 00:11:57,956 --> 00:12:02,756 Speaker 1: visibility for non white folks in Hollywood. Without visibility, there's 206 00:12:02,796 --> 00:12:07,076 Speaker 1: no change. Without visibility, there's no access. So it's really 207 00:12:07,116 --> 00:12:10,596 Speaker 1: about getting in front of as many eyes and ears 208 00:12:10,876 --> 00:12:13,756 Speaker 1: as possible to get your story out there and in 209 00:12:13,836 --> 00:12:15,716 Speaker 1: order to tell a story. You need to be in 210 00:12:15,756 --> 00:12:20,036 Speaker 1: the room where stories are written, specifically writers rooms. According 211 00:12:20,076 --> 00:12:23,356 Speaker 1: to a twenty seventeen report on representation in Hollywood and 212 00:12:23,476 --> 00:12:27,276 Speaker 1: in Television, of nearly four thousand writers, four point eight 213 00:12:27,276 --> 00:12:30,116 Speaker 1: percent of them were black, and over half of all 214 00:12:30,156 --> 00:12:34,476 Speaker 1: shows have zero black writers. Mike Goyo is one of 215 00:12:34,516 --> 00:12:36,716 Speaker 1: the very few who have made it to the inside. 216 00:12:37,356 --> 00:12:40,876 Speaker 1: We're in this space now. We have to build out 217 00:12:40,876 --> 00:12:43,716 Speaker 1: these programs for ourselves because if we don't build them out, 218 00:12:44,516 --> 00:12:47,276 Speaker 1: everything will remain the same. So we have to kind 219 00:12:47,316 --> 00:12:51,076 Speaker 1: of like take the initiative to do that. Goya's most 220 00:12:51,076 --> 00:12:53,556 Speaker 1: recent job was writing for a little show on HBO. 221 00:12:53,716 --> 00:12:56,116 Speaker 1: You might have heard me shout out on a previous 222 00:12:56,116 --> 00:13:00,796 Speaker 1: solvable episode. That show is called Insecure and Today. Goyo 223 00:13:00,956 --> 00:13:03,716 Speaker 1: is also the founder of a mentorship organization called Black 224 00:13:03,756 --> 00:13:07,036 Speaker 1: Boy Rites and Black Girl Rights. They help burgeoning writers 225 00:13:07,076 --> 00:13:10,156 Speaker 1: not only find their footing when entering a large white landscape, 226 00:13:10,396 --> 00:13:13,396 Speaker 1: but also offer support and a network as they continue 227 00:13:13,396 --> 00:13:16,316 Speaker 1: to grow their careers in Hollywood. The lack of creatives 228 00:13:16,356 --> 00:13:20,076 Speaker 1: of color in positions of power in Hollywood is solvable. 229 00:13:24,836 --> 00:13:28,716 Speaker 1: I met Etha early twenty fifteen, and like she had 230 00:13:28,756 --> 00:13:32,476 Speaker 1: a mixer at her production company for Creatives of Color, 231 00:13:32,956 --> 00:13:35,076 Speaker 1: and I went to that mixer, met her for all 232 00:13:35,116 --> 00:13:38,356 Speaker 1: of two minutes. But Etha, I mean I credit her 233 00:13:38,436 --> 00:13:40,996 Speaker 1: to helping me in my career. She has always helped 234 00:13:41,476 --> 00:13:44,836 Speaker 1: up and coming creatives. And I met several people there 235 00:13:44,836 --> 00:13:47,756 Speaker 1: that became my people, that became my tribe of people. 236 00:13:47,836 --> 00:13:50,356 Speaker 1: She was like, you know, look to the people in 237 00:13:50,396 --> 00:13:53,596 Speaker 1: the room to grow with, and that's exactly what I did, 238 00:13:53,836 --> 00:13:56,636 Speaker 1: you know, and that is my group chat Like that 239 00:13:56,716 --> 00:13:58,876 Speaker 1: is those are my people. We all came up at 240 00:13:58,876 --> 00:14:01,396 Speaker 1: the same time, we all got staffed around the same time, 241 00:14:01,396 --> 00:14:04,956 Speaker 1: we all continue to rise around the same time, and 242 00:14:05,036 --> 00:14:09,036 Speaker 1: she really helped make that happen. So it's about how 243 00:14:09,436 --> 00:14:13,396 Speaker 1: are all these creatives that are out here creative, the 244 00:14:13,396 --> 00:14:15,796 Speaker 1: colors that are coming up in the business, how they're 245 00:14:15,836 --> 00:14:18,796 Speaker 1: helping others come up. And I want to be able 246 00:14:18,796 --> 00:14:24,556 Speaker 1: to do the same thing. Originally, you weren't going to 247 00:14:24,596 --> 00:14:28,836 Speaker 1: be a writer, So tell me what your aspirations were 248 00:14:28,956 --> 00:14:32,156 Speaker 1: or what your parents wanted you to be originally. You 249 00:14:32,196 --> 00:14:35,356 Speaker 1: know what, I love that last minute correction there because 250 00:14:35,396 --> 00:14:38,516 Speaker 1: it really was my parents. I was like, my aspirations, 251 00:14:38,556 --> 00:14:40,716 Speaker 1: I don't think I knew what they were until my 252 00:14:40,756 --> 00:14:45,836 Speaker 1: parents told me what they were. No. Yeah, I was, 253 00:14:46,116 --> 00:14:50,676 Speaker 1: you know, being groomed to be a doctor by my parents, 254 00:14:50,716 --> 00:14:54,196 Speaker 1: you know, from a young age. That's the road I 255 00:14:54,236 --> 00:14:57,596 Speaker 1: went down. I didn't know anything else. But once I 256 00:14:57,636 --> 00:15:01,276 Speaker 1: got to college and I started taking you know, theater 257 00:15:01,436 --> 00:15:05,036 Speaker 1: classes and screenwriting classes, I was like, oh wow, I 258 00:15:05,236 --> 00:15:09,516 Speaker 1: really enjoy this. I also came across you know, organic stream, 259 00:15:09,596 --> 00:15:13,956 Speaker 1: was like, oh, okay, this is this is the enemy. 260 00:15:14,676 --> 00:15:20,356 Speaker 1: Definitely not getting past this level. You're a child of 261 00:15:20,396 --> 00:15:24,236 Speaker 1: Haitian immigrants, I am. The earthquake in Haiti in twenty ten, 262 00:15:24,716 --> 00:15:27,436 Speaker 1: it bore some influence on making the switch from becoming 263 00:15:27,476 --> 00:15:30,916 Speaker 1: a doctor to being fully focused on writing. Can you 264 00:15:30,956 --> 00:15:34,676 Speaker 1: talk a little bit about that, Ronald this his research. Basically, 265 00:15:34,676 --> 00:15:37,516 Speaker 1: what happened was my both my parents and my sister 266 00:15:37,796 --> 00:15:41,636 Speaker 1: were in Haiti during the earthquake, so we couldn't have 267 00:15:41,636 --> 00:15:43,796 Speaker 1: reached them for three days, so we were thinking the 268 00:15:43,876 --> 00:15:47,316 Speaker 1: worst at the time. My little brother, who's he's twelve 269 00:15:47,396 --> 00:15:50,196 Speaker 1: years younger than me, he was in my care at 270 00:15:50,196 --> 00:15:52,236 Speaker 1: the time, so I'm also having to think of like, 271 00:15:52,476 --> 00:15:55,516 Speaker 1: oh my god, like okay, my parents can't locate them. 272 00:15:56,036 --> 00:15:59,316 Speaker 1: I'm like, you know, trying to put aside thoughts about 273 00:15:59,356 --> 00:16:03,196 Speaker 1: like the idea of raising my little brother alone. So 274 00:16:04,396 --> 00:16:07,356 Speaker 1: after discovering they were okay and everything was fine, and 275 00:16:07,556 --> 00:16:10,356 Speaker 1: you know, they eventually flew back to the States. I 276 00:16:10,396 --> 00:16:14,636 Speaker 1: really had an aha moment of like, just a life 277 00:16:14,716 --> 00:16:17,036 Speaker 1: is too short to live for other people, and I 278 00:16:17,116 --> 00:16:20,716 Speaker 1: was really kind of living for everyone else but myself. 279 00:16:20,756 --> 00:16:25,276 Speaker 1: I was living for my parents. It just wasn't working 280 00:16:25,316 --> 00:16:28,276 Speaker 1: for me. I was really kind of like honestly depressed. 281 00:16:28,876 --> 00:16:30,476 Speaker 1: That's when I decided to change my major to the 282 00:16:30,596 --> 00:16:35,276 Speaker 1: theater with a concentration in creative writing. And then I 283 00:16:35,316 --> 00:16:37,476 Speaker 1: also came out in the same year to my parents too, 284 00:16:37,516 --> 00:16:41,436 Speaker 1: so that was that was what was that like for them? 285 00:16:42,156 --> 00:16:46,796 Speaker 1: I mean it was man when I when I changed 286 00:16:46,916 --> 00:16:50,596 Speaker 1: career path, my mother cried, was like, I can't believe 287 00:16:50,596 --> 00:16:53,996 Speaker 1: you're doing this. Oh you were, you know, on such 288 00:16:53,996 --> 00:16:56,356 Speaker 1: a good path. Now you're writing. I don't even know 289 00:16:56,356 --> 00:16:58,956 Speaker 1: what that is, what does that even mean? And then 290 00:16:59,116 --> 00:17:00,956 Speaker 1: my dad was like, it's gonna be all right. Just 291 00:17:01,076 --> 00:17:03,836 Speaker 1: let him fly, like, let him do what he wants 292 00:17:03,836 --> 00:17:06,036 Speaker 1: to do. He was very supportive in that way. And 293 00:17:06,036 --> 00:17:09,116 Speaker 1: then I was, oh, fantastic. And then later that year 294 00:17:09,356 --> 00:17:11,676 Speaker 1: when I came out, like my dad was crying and 295 00:17:11,716 --> 00:17:13,756 Speaker 1: my mom was like, let him do what he wants, 296 00:17:13,796 --> 00:17:18,356 Speaker 1: like you said, let him be free. I love that. 297 00:17:19,476 --> 00:17:22,996 Speaker 1: So yeah, that was really a pivotal year for me, 298 00:17:23,156 --> 00:17:26,436 Speaker 1: not just in my career what would become my career, 299 00:17:26,476 --> 00:17:28,996 Speaker 1: but in my life. You know, your story really resonates 300 00:17:28,996 --> 00:17:31,556 Speaker 1: with me because I was in it for most of 301 00:17:31,556 --> 00:17:34,276 Speaker 1: my adult life. I'm still fairly due to this job, 302 00:17:34,676 --> 00:17:40,356 Speaker 1: so I I appreciate that. So Viking, that adjustment was 303 00:17:40,676 --> 00:17:42,876 Speaker 1: something that it was easy to wrap my head around 304 00:17:42,876 --> 00:17:45,036 Speaker 1: because it was my dream job. But there were some 305 00:17:45,316 --> 00:17:48,396 Speaker 1: difficulties in terms of switching industries and learning the industry 306 00:17:48,436 --> 00:17:50,716 Speaker 1: and learning the people around me. My granted, I don't 307 00:17:50,756 --> 00:17:52,796 Speaker 1: think you did a career switch, but even starting in 308 00:17:52,836 --> 00:17:54,996 Speaker 1: this career in this world, tell me what that world 309 00:17:55,116 --> 00:17:58,156 Speaker 1: was like, especially for you a black man, Like, what 310 00:17:58,236 --> 00:18:00,756 Speaker 1: was that like? Interacting with all these folks and even 311 00:18:00,796 --> 00:18:02,716 Speaker 1: though it is your dream job, what was that like? 312 00:18:04,116 --> 00:18:08,116 Speaker 1: After graduating college, I knew that I wanted to Purdue Television. 313 00:18:08,156 --> 00:18:10,196 Speaker 1: I knew I want to move to LA So I 314 00:18:10,236 --> 00:18:14,116 Speaker 1: was making plans to move to LA. While making those plans, 315 00:18:14,156 --> 00:18:17,676 Speaker 1: I was working as a production assistant in Boston. You know, 316 00:18:17,716 --> 00:18:20,796 Speaker 1: I worked on the Equalizer as a production assistant with 317 00:18:20,956 --> 00:18:25,396 Speaker 1: Denzel Washington. I worked on American Idol. I worked on 318 00:18:25,396 --> 00:18:27,596 Speaker 1: a few other reality TV shows. But when I was 319 00:18:27,636 --> 00:18:30,676 Speaker 1: working on American Idol, who was in Boston for their 320 00:18:30,796 --> 00:18:33,836 Speaker 1: Boston auditions, I happened to mention a production like, Hey, 321 00:18:33,836 --> 00:18:36,836 Speaker 1: I'm moving to LA in a month, and I'm like, okay, great. 322 00:18:36,916 --> 00:18:38,876 Speaker 1: Once he moved to La, come work with us, and 323 00:18:38,916 --> 00:18:42,836 Speaker 1: I was like, oh, say no. More So, once I moved, 324 00:18:42,876 --> 00:18:46,716 Speaker 1: I had a job which was which was great. But 325 00:18:46,916 --> 00:18:52,436 Speaker 1: to your question, like when I got here, I felt like, Okay, 326 00:18:52,996 --> 00:18:56,156 Speaker 1: this is the opportunity I was asking the universe for. 327 00:18:57,116 --> 00:19:01,116 Speaker 1: So I need to kind of really focus and make 328 00:19:01,196 --> 00:19:06,356 Speaker 1: some connections, start networking. Part of the my success has 329 00:19:06,396 --> 00:19:10,036 Speaker 1: been building my network. And what I came to realize 330 00:19:10,196 --> 00:19:14,276 Speaker 1: very quickly that my network will dictate my net worth 331 00:19:14,356 --> 00:19:17,436 Speaker 1: in this business, and it's really about who you know 332 00:19:18,036 --> 00:19:21,396 Speaker 1: as well as your talent. Some have been able to 333 00:19:21,436 --> 00:19:28,676 Speaker 1: succeed with you know without both, but as if you're 334 00:19:28,716 --> 00:19:32,836 Speaker 1: a person of color, you will most likely you will 335 00:19:32,916 --> 00:19:37,076 Speaker 1: need both. It's far and being a person of color 336 00:19:37,116 --> 00:19:40,516 Speaker 1: in this industry trying to come up and being able 337 00:19:40,516 --> 00:19:44,476 Speaker 1: to create some type of like sustainable pathway program for 338 00:19:44,556 --> 00:19:48,916 Speaker 1: other writers, or some type of like access that stays 339 00:19:49,116 --> 00:19:55,556 Speaker 1: open for us is really important. So much of Hollywood 340 00:19:55,596 --> 00:19:58,676 Speaker 1: is about who you know across all areas of work. 341 00:19:58,756 --> 00:20:02,036 Speaker 1: Researchers have found that people in positions of power demonstrate 342 00:20:02,116 --> 00:20:05,676 Speaker 1: unconscious bias. That's when we hire people who look like 343 00:20:05,796 --> 00:20:08,396 Speaker 1: us or have a similar background or path the one 344 00:20:08,476 --> 00:20:11,676 Speaker 1: we follow. Some people have a conscious bias too, of course, 345 00:20:11,956 --> 00:20:14,756 Speaker 1: which leads to the same result. Doors shut to people 346 00:20:14,756 --> 00:20:18,276 Speaker 1: of color in TV and film. The many white writers 347 00:20:18,356 --> 00:20:21,116 Speaker 1: making it bring on other white writers, who in turn 348 00:20:21,196 --> 00:20:24,756 Speaker 1: bring on more white writers. Only seven of every twenty 349 00:20:24,756 --> 00:20:29,276 Speaker 1: writers is currently a person of color. Discrimination is perpetuated, 350 00:20:41,916 --> 00:20:45,076 Speaker 1: Mike with your organization, black boy writes, black Girl writes, 351 00:20:45,316 --> 00:20:48,796 Speaker 1: Are you seeking to create work and opportunities to overlooked 352 00:20:48,796 --> 00:20:51,236 Speaker 1: folks in writing or is it more that you're trying 353 00:20:51,236 --> 00:20:54,556 Speaker 1: to teach them about writing? Or is it both? It's 354 00:20:54,596 --> 00:20:57,716 Speaker 1: really both. Once you're in the program, some of the 355 00:20:57,836 --> 00:21:01,516 Speaker 1: features include writer round tables with other writers in the 356 00:21:01,596 --> 00:21:05,916 Speaker 1: business who are established, and we try to invite as 357 00:21:05,996 --> 00:21:11,476 Speaker 1: many people that feel like relay the to our mentees, 358 00:21:12,436 --> 00:21:16,596 Speaker 1: imparting you know, tips about writing and also just like 359 00:21:16,636 --> 00:21:19,196 Speaker 1: writer's room etiquette and things like that, like things you 360 00:21:19,196 --> 00:21:21,476 Speaker 1: would normally you would not know unless you were in 361 00:21:21,516 --> 00:21:25,036 Speaker 1: a writer's room. But it is also about providing access. 362 00:21:25,436 --> 00:21:28,516 Speaker 1: You know, these conversations that we're having with these you know, 363 00:21:28,676 --> 00:21:31,836 Speaker 1: established writers or like intimate conversations where they get to 364 00:21:32,516 --> 00:21:35,316 Speaker 1: be free to ask any type of question they'd like 365 00:21:35,356 --> 00:21:37,516 Speaker 1: to ask. They have some face time with the writers, 366 00:21:37,516 --> 00:21:40,716 Speaker 1: They get the writers contact information so that they can 367 00:21:40,756 --> 00:21:44,156 Speaker 1: contact them themselves and build like a personal their own 368 00:21:44,236 --> 00:21:48,076 Speaker 1: like genuine personal relationship with that person. I try to 369 00:21:48,116 --> 00:21:53,596 Speaker 1: provide them with access to securing general meetings with executives. 370 00:21:54,556 --> 00:21:58,156 Speaker 1: It's really about creating a sense of visibility for them 371 00:21:58,796 --> 00:22:02,436 Speaker 1: so that you can get the access that you need. Also, 372 00:22:02,476 --> 00:22:05,876 Speaker 1: once the program is over, we have an alumni system 373 00:22:06,156 --> 00:22:09,076 Speaker 1: where we're not going to let you just go off 374 00:22:09,596 --> 00:22:12,436 Speaker 1: on your own and expect you to fly. Yeah, it's 375 00:22:12,476 --> 00:22:15,156 Speaker 1: like it's like it's that thing of like when a 376 00:22:15,236 --> 00:22:19,716 Speaker 1: mother bird like watches there baby fly off the branch. 377 00:22:20,196 --> 00:22:22,116 Speaker 1: They at least look down to make sure that they 378 00:22:22,196 --> 00:22:26,316 Speaker 1: made it. Like that they're okay. So as soon as 379 00:22:26,356 --> 00:22:29,196 Speaker 1: like the program's over and it's really just a year program. 380 00:22:29,596 --> 00:22:33,356 Speaker 1: The intention is to keep up with all our alumni 381 00:22:34,076 --> 00:22:35,996 Speaker 1: and make sure that they are okay, make sure they've 382 00:22:35,996 --> 00:22:39,316 Speaker 1: made it, make sure that they still have what they need. 383 00:22:40,036 --> 00:22:42,596 Speaker 1: So Mike, like you, you give them a lot, Like 384 00:22:42,676 --> 00:22:45,876 Speaker 1: that's a lot for a person to get, like, especially 385 00:22:45,916 --> 00:22:48,836 Speaker 1: starting off as a writer. I imagine that this has 386 00:22:48,836 --> 00:22:51,916 Speaker 1: to be connected to something that you felt was lacking 387 00:22:52,356 --> 00:22:54,276 Speaker 1: as you were coming up in the program, Like, Man, 388 00:22:54,316 --> 00:22:55,916 Speaker 1: I wish it I had would have had this. I 389 00:22:55,916 --> 00:22:57,596 Speaker 1: wonder if you have any stories or anything that are 390 00:22:57,636 --> 00:23:00,476 Speaker 1: attached to what you did not have a kind of 391 00:23:00,476 --> 00:23:02,876 Speaker 1: what you had to fight for an advocate for yourself 392 00:23:03,476 --> 00:23:05,396 Speaker 1: growing up as a young black writer in the game. 393 00:23:05,716 --> 00:23:08,836 Speaker 1: You know what the funny thing is, Ronald, It's it's 394 00:23:08,836 --> 00:23:12,356 Speaker 1: because of what I had that I'm doing what I'm doing. 395 00:23:12,476 --> 00:23:15,876 Speaker 1: Do you know what I mean? It's of people that 396 00:23:16,076 --> 00:23:20,116 Speaker 1: came up before me who gave me a helping hand, 397 00:23:20,156 --> 00:23:22,436 Speaker 1: do you know what I mean? And who like and 398 00:23:22,596 --> 00:23:27,156 Speaker 1: pulled me up. Yes, I credit my career to hard 399 00:23:27,156 --> 00:23:32,516 Speaker 1: work and to ambition, right, but I also credited to 400 00:23:32,556 --> 00:23:35,676 Speaker 1: people who have been mentors of mine and who have 401 00:23:35,796 --> 00:23:38,476 Speaker 1: kind of like helped me in my career, all I 402 00:23:38,516 --> 00:23:41,676 Speaker 1: want to do is be able to like really pay 403 00:23:41,756 --> 00:23:45,076 Speaker 1: that back, pay that forward. I just went ahead with 404 00:23:45,116 --> 00:23:53,236 Speaker 1: that idea and started pursuing it. Mike Goyle was hardworking 405 00:23:53,356 --> 00:23:56,076 Speaker 1: and fortunate. He was able to land a job when 406 00:23:56,076 --> 00:23:58,436 Speaker 1: he first moved to LA He was able to mingle 407 00:23:58,516 --> 00:24:01,156 Speaker 1: with successful black writers, and he could afford to take 408 00:24:01,196 --> 00:24:02,796 Speaker 1: the time to show up in the places where they 409 00:24:02,796 --> 00:24:07,836 Speaker 1: were and offered to take them out for coffee or drinks. Persistence, networking, 410 00:24:08,116 --> 00:24:15,476 Speaker 1: playing the game. It all takes time and effort. Mike, 411 00:24:15,716 --> 00:24:18,956 Speaker 1: how do you feel about the necessity of a POC 412 00:24:19,156 --> 00:24:22,596 Speaker 1: community having to build our own networks in order to 413 00:24:22,636 --> 00:24:26,676 Speaker 1: even stand a chance. That isn't necessarily the case for 414 00:24:26,716 --> 00:24:28,916 Speaker 1: white folks, or it might be a little more naturally 415 00:24:28,916 --> 00:24:31,476 Speaker 1: built in for white folks than it is for black 416 00:24:31,516 --> 00:24:33,276 Speaker 1: folks who have to build our own network. I think 417 00:24:33,316 --> 00:24:35,956 Speaker 1: you hit it right on the head and the last 418 00:24:35,956 --> 00:24:39,356 Speaker 1: sentence there, it's like it's just they have been able 419 00:24:39,356 --> 00:24:42,436 Speaker 1: to build it out in a way that we have 420 00:24:42,476 --> 00:24:45,556 Speaker 1: not had the opportunity to, or when we have had 421 00:24:45,596 --> 00:24:50,756 Speaker 1: the opportunity to, you know, Telsa, it getting burned down. 422 00:24:51,036 --> 00:24:56,836 Speaker 1: So I think that right, I'm just saying we're getting real. 423 00:24:57,236 --> 00:25:02,516 Speaker 1: I'm just saying, but yeah, it's it's it's it's it's 424 00:25:02,596 --> 00:25:04,716 Speaker 1: not as natural for us, and that's why we have 425 00:25:04,796 --> 00:25:09,036 Speaker 1: to continue to work at it. But it's this thing 426 00:25:09,196 --> 00:25:14,116 Speaker 1: of like we're in this space now where we have 427 00:25:14,276 --> 00:25:16,716 Speaker 1: to build out these programs for ourselves because if we 428 00:25:16,756 --> 00:25:20,236 Speaker 1: don't build them out, everything will remain the same. So 429 00:25:20,316 --> 00:25:23,076 Speaker 1: we have to kind of like take the initiative to 430 00:25:23,276 --> 00:25:26,836 Speaker 1: do that. Do we have allies who want to help us, absolutely, 431 00:25:27,356 --> 00:25:30,356 Speaker 1: but we still have to put ourselves in that space 432 00:25:30,356 --> 00:25:35,356 Speaker 1: of building that out for ourselves. So I think some 433 00:25:35,436 --> 00:25:38,916 Speaker 1: of the stats that come to Hollywood and writing and 434 00:25:39,036 --> 00:25:42,236 Speaker 1: show business generally skew largely white. I mean a couple 435 00:25:42,356 --> 00:25:45,876 Speaker 1: years ago we had that controversy of hashtag oscars so white, 436 00:25:46,196 --> 00:25:49,316 Speaker 1: And in twenty nineteen twenty twenty, seventy percent of showrunners 437 00:25:49,316 --> 00:25:52,596 Speaker 1: were men, eighty two percent were white. How does your 438 00:25:52,596 --> 00:25:55,476 Speaker 1: program helping to address those types of issues or how 439 00:25:55,516 --> 00:25:57,316 Speaker 1: do you how do you hope to address those types 440 00:25:57,316 --> 00:26:00,556 Speaker 1: of issues in the future. It's really about like leveling 441 00:26:00,596 --> 00:26:03,756 Speaker 1: the playing field and when it comes to access, and 442 00:26:03,796 --> 00:26:06,236 Speaker 1: that's what I'm trying to provide with the program. Is 443 00:26:06,276 --> 00:26:09,916 Speaker 1: creating the access so that there can be more showrunners 444 00:26:09,956 --> 00:26:14,676 Speaker 1: of color, there can be more high level writers in 445 00:26:14,716 --> 00:26:17,676 Speaker 1: the writers room who are people of color. Mike Like, 446 00:26:17,756 --> 00:26:21,036 Speaker 1: I could totally see your program continuing to expand and 447 00:26:21,196 --> 00:26:23,836 Speaker 1: fill these spaces in a major way. But one thing 448 00:26:23,836 --> 00:26:26,516 Speaker 1: I'm thinking right now is that you also have an 449 00:26:26,596 --> 00:26:29,796 Speaker 1: individual career. You're working on your own writing and growth 450 00:26:29,796 --> 00:26:33,116 Speaker 1: and professional ambitions. So even though your mentorship program is 451 00:26:33,156 --> 00:26:36,516 Speaker 1: clearly rewarding and important, the burden of this kind of 452 00:26:36,516 --> 00:26:40,876 Speaker 1: work often falls on us as marginalized people to simultaneously 453 00:26:40,996 --> 00:26:45,596 Speaker 1: lift each other up while lifting ourselves. And that's a 454 00:26:45,636 --> 00:26:48,756 Speaker 1: lot of lifting, you know. I'm thinking about how a 455 00:26:48,796 --> 00:26:51,356 Speaker 1: couple of weeks ago, we talked about this with doctor 456 00:26:51,436 --> 00:26:54,116 Speaker 1: Joy Harden Bradford. She runs therapy for black girls, and 457 00:26:54,196 --> 00:26:56,276 Speaker 1: she talked about how part of showing up for her 458 00:26:56,276 --> 00:26:58,916 Speaker 1: community was also saying no from time to time and 459 00:26:58,956 --> 00:27:01,396 Speaker 1: making time for herself. So how do you strike the 460 00:27:01,396 --> 00:27:05,196 Speaker 1: balance between helping others and helping yourself? Ronald? You are 461 00:27:05,196 --> 00:27:09,676 Speaker 1: asking all the right questions. You're asking questions that I 462 00:27:09,756 --> 00:27:13,396 Speaker 1: think about on a daily basis, because right now, I mean, 463 00:27:13,516 --> 00:27:15,996 Speaker 1: in terms of the program, it's been like a one 464 00:27:16,036 --> 00:27:19,836 Speaker 1: man band. I have a producing partner. Her name is 465 00:27:19,876 --> 00:27:25,116 Speaker 1: Ashley Aaronson. She's fantastic and who's really helped me build 466 00:27:25,156 --> 00:27:28,596 Speaker 1: out the program. She's helped me build the site like 467 00:27:28,676 --> 00:27:32,876 Speaker 1: she has been fantastic. But the thing is, for the 468 00:27:32,916 --> 00:27:38,276 Speaker 1: most part, it's just been myself putting this program together. 469 00:27:38,436 --> 00:27:43,876 Speaker 1: And I had some time in between jobs to really 470 00:27:43,956 --> 00:27:45,996 Speaker 1: be there for my mentees. And I continue to be 471 00:27:46,036 --> 00:27:49,276 Speaker 1: there for my mentees. But am currently in a writer's 472 00:27:49,356 --> 00:27:54,556 Speaker 1: room now in the process of contract negotiations over something 473 00:27:54,556 --> 00:27:58,316 Speaker 1: that I'm extremely excited about and we'll share later down 474 00:27:58,356 --> 00:28:03,236 Speaker 1: the line. And I'm like pitching TV shows and features. 475 00:28:03,556 --> 00:28:06,556 Speaker 1: It's just there isn't a lot of time, so I 476 00:28:06,636 --> 00:28:11,516 Speaker 1: have had to be very conscious of how I allocate 477 00:28:11,556 --> 00:28:15,596 Speaker 1: my time so that I'm making time for what matters 478 00:28:15,636 --> 00:28:25,596 Speaker 1: to me. Let's look five to ten years down the line, 479 00:28:25,996 --> 00:28:29,596 Speaker 1: what does success look like for you, Mike personally, and 480 00:28:29,676 --> 00:28:32,156 Speaker 1: what does it look like for the program and for 481 00:28:32,356 --> 00:28:36,716 Speaker 1: black folks in writing in show business. If everything is 482 00:28:36,716 --> 00:28:38,836 Speaker 1: successful as you as you hope for it to be 483 00:28:39,716 --> 00:28:45,156 Speaker 1: more content about people of color who are experiencing, you know, 484 00:28:46,076 --> 00:28:51,356 Speaker 1: different things. We're not monolithic, you know, we live varied experiences. 485 00:28:51,916 --> 00:28:55,556 Speaker 1: Several shows can exist about you know, a group of 486 00:28:55,876 --> 00:28:59,996 Speaker 1: friends and there not be one girlfriends or one insecure, 487 00:29:00,396 --> 00:29:02,636 Speaker 1: or you know, or one living single. You know what 488 00:29:02,636 --> 00:29:06,756 Speaker 1: I mean equality in the sense of, like the higher ups, 489 00:29:06,876 --> 00:29:08,836 Speaker 1: what it looks like, What those numbers look like that 490 00:29:08,876 --> 00:29:14,156 Speaker 1: you mentioned earlier, like having more women of color running shows, 491 00:29:14,276 --> 00:29:21,116 Speaker 1: having more LGPTQ individuals of color running shows. Those things 492 00:29:21,156 --> 00:29:25,996 Speaker 1: are important, So it looks like true equality, and it 493 00:29:26,036 --> 00:29:31,756 Speaker 1: looks like a television slate that's not monolithic or not 494 00:29:31,956 --> 00:29:36,076 Speaker 1: only catering to one type of way of being black. 495 00:29:37,316 --> 00:29:39,996 Speaker 1: And what about you personally? Of course, I want the 496 00:29:40,276 --> 00:29:43,996 Speaker 1: program to continue to flourish. I want to be able 497 00:29:43,996 --> 00:29:47,036 Speaker 1: to expand the program to like colleges and high schools, 498 00:29:47,476 --> 00:29:54,556 Speaker 1: create a scholarship fund for young aspiring writers to have 499 00:29:54,756 --> 00:29:57,156 Speaker 1: access to tools that they need in order to get 500 00:29:57,236 --> 00:30:01,276 Speaker 1: to where they want to be. That can take someone 501 00:30:01,356 --> 00:30:04,596 Speaker 1: who's ten and has a dream, and you know, take 502 00:30:04,636 --> 00:30:08,076 Speaker 1: them all the way into the writer's room once they're ready. 503 00:30:08,556 --> 00:30:10,476 Speaker 1: So I w point out that I asked about your 504 00:30:10,476 --> 00:30:12,676 Speaker 1: personal goals and where you are five to ten years, 505 00:30:12,676 --> 00:30:15,036 Speaker 1: if you still talked about your program, which is that's 506 00:30:15,076 --> 00:30:20,356 Speaker 1: not that's crazy. It's almost like you're right. Um, I'm 507 00:30:20,716 --> 00:30:27,036 Speaker 1: I'm truly always thinking about it myself, myself creating shows, 508 00:30:27,036 --> 00:30:29,196 Speaker 1: of course. I mean I want, you know, to have 509 00:30:29,236 --> 00:30:31,476 Speaker 1: my own shows on air. I want to be able 510 00:30:31,476 --> 00:30:36,756 Speaker 1: to support other writers who have fantastic ideas who just 511 00:30:36,956 --> 00:30:41,516 Speaker 1: can't get a shot, you know, build out more programs 512 00:30:42,036 --> 00:30:46,356 Speaker 1: to help other writers get to where they'd like to be. Like, 513 00:30:46,516 --> 00:30:49,156 Speaker 1: I love it. I'm not bad at it. I mean, 514 00:30:49,196 --> 00:30:54,076 Speaker 1: that's it. You know. I just got here. Okay, I 515 00:30:54,276 --> 00:31:11,196 Speaker 1: just got here, and I'm grateful to be here. So 516 00:31:11,236 --> 00:31:13,436 Speaker 1: what can our listeners do to help I'm listening to 517 00:31:13,476 --> 00:31:15,276 Speaker 1: this and I'm like, man, I want to really support 518 00:31:15,636 --> 00:31:18,476 Speaker 1: I care about black representation in writer's room. Maybe I'm 519 00:31:18,476 --> 00:31:21,276 Speaker 1: somebody who loved Insecure and like, man, I'd love to 520 00:31:21,316 --> 00:31:24,436 Speaker 1: see more things like that on television. At the same time, 521 00:31:24,596 --> 00:31:27,756 Speaker 1: what can listeners do to help support this? Listen, there's 522 00:31:27,796 --> 00:31:32,436 Speaker 1: like over four hundred shows on air, So when we're 523 00:31:32,476 --> 00:31:34,996 Speaker 1: putting our shows on air and we're actually getting a shot, 524 00:31:35,116 --> 00:31:39,676 Speaker 1: watch that would that would really help To watch these 525 00:31:39,676 --> 00:31:42,956 Speaker 1: shows and even beyond watching the show, look them up 526 00:31:43,076 --> 00:31:46,156 Speaker 1: see ways in which you can like help support their 527 00:31:46,196 --> 00:31:51,356 Speaker 1: careers specifically with the program. You know, if anyone out 528 00:31:51,436 --> 00:31:55,156 Speaker 1: there would like to reach out who are interested in investing, 529 00:31:55,196 --> 00:31:59,316 Speaker 1: and you know, I like the idea of this program 530 00:31:59,396 --> 00:32:03,876 Speaker 1: existing and living on for many years, please feel free 531 00:32:03,876 --> 00:32:08,036 Speaker 1: to reach out to me and contact me. Because without visibility, 532 00:32:08,596 --> 00:32:12,956 Speaker 1: there's no change. Without visibility, there's no access. So it's 533 00:32:12,996 --> 00:32:16,236 Speaker 1: really about getting in front of as many eyes and 534 00:32:16,356 --> 00:32:19,956 Speaker 1: ears as possible to get your story out there to 535 00:32:19,996 --> 00:32:22,196 Speaker 1: be able to build that support. Do you have any 536 00:32:22,436 --> 00:32:25,996 Speaker 1: reading resources to help become a sharper writer, or anything 537 00:32:26,036 --> 00:32:28,876 Speaker 1: to become a stronger networker, anything that helped you persevere 538 00:32:29,036 --> 00:32:34,036 Speaker 1: in your journey. Oh my god, Podcasts, the Writer's Room, 539 00:32:34,716 --> 00:32:37,676 Speaker 1: the Screenwriter's Room. I don't know if you know Hilliard 540 00:32:37,796 --> 00:32:41,636 Speaker 1: guests like he Hilliard is fantastic. He has a fantastic podcast. 541 00:32:42,156 --> 00:32:45,516 Speaker 1: The WGA has a great podcast. One of the first 542 00:32:45,716 --> 00:32:49,116 Speaker 1: screenwriting books I ever got with a Screenwriter's Bible. I 543 00:32:49,196 --> 00:32:52,876 Speaker 1: suggest every writer have that though. I really listened to 544 00:32:52,916 --> 00:32:58,036 Speaker 1: like podcasts, podcast word my thing, Mike. This has been 545 00:32:58,076 --> 00:33:00,356 Speaker 1: an incredible conversation. Thank you so much for taking the 546 00:33:00,396 --> 00:33:02,916 Speaker 1: time to be with us, Ronald. Thank you so much 547 00:33:02,956 --> 00:33:06,156 Speaker 1: for having me. This was great. Thank you guys for 548 00:33:06,196 --> 00:33:11,076 Speaker 1: reaching out. Mike Oyo is a television writer and founder 549 00:33:11,116 --> 00:33:15,476 Speaker 1: of Black Boy Rights Black Girl Rights mentorship program. Solvable 550 00:33:15,556 --> 00:33:19,876 Speaker 1: is produced by Jocelyn Frank, research by David Jah, booking 551 00:33:19,996 --> 00:33:23,756 Speaker 1: by Lisa Dunn. Our managing producer is Sasha Matthias, and 552 00:33:23,836 --> 00:33:27,756 Speaker 1: our executive producer is Mio Lobel. I'm Ronald Young Junior. 553 00:33:28,356 --> 00:33:29,156 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening.